Steel Panthers: WaW / MBT vs JTCS

[Compass Rose]

I was digging around and I located some old computer DVD disks I made in past years and I came across Steel Panthers World At War Free version disk. I was wondering what you guys thought of it and MBT when compared to JTCS? Which do you like better between WaW/MBT and JTCS and why?

I noticed on the Shrapnel Games website that SP:WaW covers WWII up until 1946. Does SPMBT pick up at 1947? What years does MBT cover?

Is there a Korean War and Vietnam War mod for WaW or does MBT cover that, too?

Thanks

[Weasel]

jtcs?

[Richie61]

According to my friend Dan, the SP WW2 & MBT series are the way to go.

SP is squad based & single tanks and it's easy to make scenarios like taking
a Squad Leader scenario and making it in SP.

Maybe he will chime in

[Compass Rose]

Based on the feedback I have received so far, it looks like SPWW2 and SPMBT is the way to go.

Thanks

[Richie61]

Based on the feedback I have received so far, it looks like SPWW2 and SPMBT is the way to go.

Thanks

I hear you. I bought both years ago, but never really had the time.
Now I am just trying to understand the controls & commands. SB is like
breathing to me and SPWW2 is like a women Very confusing...

Dan loves SP and has been working me over to get into it. I wonder if Dennis
is paying Dan off?

[keif149]

Based on the feedback I have received so far, it looks like SPWW2 and SPMBT is the way to go.

Thanks

I hear you. I bought both years ago, but never really had the time.
Now I am just trying to understand the controls & commands. SB is like
breathing to me and SPWW2 is like a women Very confusing...

Dan loves SP and has been working me over to get into it. I wonder if Dennis
is paying Dan off?

LOl, no, I have received no funds.

Ok, I have nothing against the Tiller\HPS games. My favorite of those being SBs. But, with out Eagles Strike being updated to at least having the new editor that allows X modded weapons, and Advance of the Reich suppose to have had the new editor in the last patch, but was "left out" even after it's mentioned in the change log, I started looking for something better to play.
I really like the SP way of spotting and checking LOS. So much, the Tiller\HPS way of doing it via the mouse without having a unit in place, is almost arcadish.
Another great feature with the paid SP game is the unit ID feature. You click on your platoon HQ and it highlights the rest of that platoons squads. So much easier to stay organized.
Plus you add full map editors and battle generators and I'm really glad I upgraded to the paid versions.
Modding might be a bit more difficult, but it's just because I have been working "fixing" Tiller\HPS graphics since 2002 and it's just what I'm used to. But, I'm looking forward to modding some of SP, but honestly, it's that good as offered and I can't see much need in making it better or improving it. Cross's mods fixes about everything I would have anyway and his stuff is always top notch. Ed and Gordon knows how many hours I spend a week working on Tiller\HPS graphics, and data mods and frankly, it will be a relief to finally get that monkey off my back.

Yeah, hurray for SPWW2 and SPMBT.
Oh yeah, playing Vietnam at the squad level in MBT, is fantastic!

[Compass Rose]

Another great feature with the paid SP game is the unit ID feature. You click on your platoon HQ and it highlights the rest of that platoons squads. So much easier to stay organized.

How does the unit ID feature (or it's equivalent) work in the free version?

[keif149]

It still shows your unit names like Bo-Pl, B1, B2 but in white text. The yellow text highlights are nice as it really catches your eye. Same if you click on the company HQ, it highlights the enitre formation, but not in yellow I think.

Language from the manual:

Show/Hide Formation ID's


"Allows players to view all the units under a formations command ( B0, C0, D0 etc ) either by pressing the "Show/Hide Formation IDs" button in the HQ menu or by pressing the ' 5 ' key on your keyboard. Press once for on and again to turn this off. It allows players to see at a glance where all the troops under the direct command of a x0 are located"


"In the example above the B0 unit is a company commander ( B0 - CO ) and it's direct subordinate unit is B1. The actual selected platoon of this company is shown in Yellow. The platoon commander ( E0 - PL ) will slowly flash gold/yellow to indicate it's status as leader and the other units under it's command will be shown in regular solid Yellow ( E1, E2, E3, E4 ), The unit at the top without ID at this time is the Battalion commander ( A0 ). Had that been selected it would show as ( A0 - BN ) and any units directly under its command would show up as well. In some cases quite a number of units come under the A0's direct command and these are shown."

"for 2013 -- The game now defaults to showing the formation IDs. This saves pressing the 5 key to turn the feature on each time you start the game. The 5 key can still be used to toggle the feature off and on if so desired".

[Compass Rose]

Thanks for the info.

Are you required to have the game cd in the drive if you are playing the paid version? If so, did they ever unofficially release a work-around for this?

[keif149]

Thanks for the info.

Are you required to have the game cd in the drive if you are playing the paid version? If so, did they ever unofficially release a work-around for this?

You can get it as a digital download or a cd. Whatever you prefer.
Plus, Shrapnel works at improving it's products. They are taking scenario submissions right now for the next patch.

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/Camo_Worksh..._page.html

$40 bucks. I've spent more than that before and couldn't remember if I had a good time or not. Back up your digital download and it will be there for as much fun as you can stand.